Daily Republican., 1887-11-18
TaE POPULAR UANAnr,

"The canary bird was never 80 pop-
ulaf as he Is to-day. In fact, he NAV !
be called the song bird Of the world,hl
said o dealer. Ia 4 South Eighth street, /
store, yesterday afternoon. "The ca.
nary seen In our American homes
does not, as many ot It's possessorsI
suppose. come from the islands of the
same name, although Its ancestors did.
Over three hundred years ago, rs the
story runs, q merchant vessel from the
Canary Islands, having ON board sey.
eral OF the little feashered musicians,
was wrecked on the Italian coast The
birds took up their abode In tho woods |
near the shore. where they began TO
multiply rapidly. and would doubtlessI
have spread over the country in a wild
state. The music loving Italians,
however. were SO strongly attracted by |
the sweet songs Of the little strangers
that all were speedily captured. From
Italy their offspring soon spread over
the whole continent of Harope. The
canary Is now principally bred in Ger
many, though few are imported to
the United States from kngland,
France, Belgium and Holland.
BIRDS THAT BRINe nREAD.
"Nost Of tho birds brought to
Amerioa are bred In the HaYt4 moun.
tains, Of Hanover, . range In the fam
ous Black Forest Of Germany. Here
the industry is carried on extensively
by the PEASANTS, who derive from It
their chief means of subsistence. The
majority OF them are 80 poor that the
agents Of the two New York firms who
enjoy monopoly Of the importations
are Obliged 10 advance at the begin
ming of the breeding season enough
money TO provide the food necessary
TO rear the young birds. One firm at
the opening OF the present season thus
laid out about $4,000. The superb
ority OF the German bird lies in their
training. great attention being paid TO
improving their song qualities. The
canary 10 o great imitater Of sounds,
and will learn almost anything that is
thrust upon his attention when young.
He may acquire the chirp Of the robin
If he hears no other song, or may be
taught the air Of q popular song. A
dealer on Ridge avenue exhibited .
canary al the Centennial Exhibition
which could sing Yankee Doodle. and
which he sold tor e100. Another,
owned by the same man, rendered
Die Lauderbach, AAidchin. in an ex-
csllent manner. I have even known
of a canary that could talk. Its owner
got Il when It was young and kept !,
where II could hear no other bird sing,
and finally succeeded In teaching II "a
pronounce Its own name. the name ol
Its mistress and one or two othoI
words. The German peasants take
advsn age OF this faculty In teaching
the young birds To sing. One ELAN Il
to place them in large cage. parti-
toned 30 rs to prevent Its inmates
from seeing each other; any fine sing
ing bird, either . canary, a skylark ol
nightingale. is placed out of sight, bu'
within hearing, Of the young canaries.
| LEARNING IN PRISON.
"After six months of this imprlson
ment the pupils, who have never see,
their teacher, will have become per
feet musicians. Another plan IS L
place the young ones IN room barely
light enough for them to see 70 eat
whore an instrument called q Dir
Organ 10 played for an hour or NOR
each day. in the hearing Of the learn
ers, who listen very attentively If the,
are not disturbed. and by practicinl
the notes heard are soon able to SIM
them perfectly. Eirds trained by thi
process are known as 'Andressberi
1 Rollers and become very proficien
In the water roll, the bell and fiut
notes and the various trills. After thi
course OF training Is completed th'
birds are separated. Zach one |
placed In . small cage, made by tn
peasants from flr wood and fastened
together with psgs instead OF nails
They remain In these narrow quarter
until they cease to be merchandise
and are finally domiciled in the home
where they become the pets OF tn
family.
| DYING OF BROKEN HEARTS.
! "With the placing Of the birds il
these small cages begins the period II
which large losses are almost certain
to take place. Upon being separated
the birds are attacked by cage sick
ness, a sort of no ne-siokness that 81
lences many sweet young voices fox
ever.
"Unlike many worse singers, th'
canary comes to America as steer
age passenger. The cages are piled
up In divisions, so as to allow the at
tendants easy access between them Z
feed the birds and clean the cages. l
proper care is devoted to food ant
cleanliness there may not be more
than two or three birds lost out of 1
whole cargo But If a heavy storm
occurs the mortality may be something
frightful TO contemplate. The bird
are attacked by genuine seasickness, q
| 1t Ii seen In man, and sometimes hal
of them die from 1t.
1.-THE principal reason why many
fine birds are not bred In America II
that we do not have the fine stock op
the female side necessary 70 breed fne
singers, Is they have in Germany
Besides, il is too much trouble FOL
| Americans. They are too busy u
take the time, and allow the German
peasants TO have practically mo
nopoly In that line, paying then
about twelve marks done <Aor them,
including the cages. at their owl
homes. In America they bring from
$3.50 to "a 90 apiece; the latter is th'
price Of good 'Andreasberg roller"
CoLoRINa TIM BIRDS
| AFTER he hHd mado Q fortune